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SCENE IV. LEONATO's House.

Enter HERO, Margaret, and URSULA.

HERO. Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice, and

desire her to rise.

URS. I will, Lady.

HERO. And bid her come hither.

URS. Well.

MARG. Troth, I think your other rebato1 were better.
HERO. No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this.

[exit.

MARG. By my troth, 's not so good; and I warrant your cousin will say so.

II

HERO. My cousin's a fool, and thou art another: I'll
wear none but this.
MARG. I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair
were a thought browner; and your gown's a most rare
fashion, i'faith. I saw the Duchess of Milan's gown
that they praise so.

HERO. O, that exceeds, they say.

MARG. By my troth, 's but a night-gown in respect of your's: cloth-o'-gold, and cuts,3 and lac'd with silver, set with pearls, down sleeves, side sleeves, and skirts round underborne with a bluish tinsel: but for a fine, quaint, graceful, and excellent fashion, your's is worth ten on 't.

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HERO. God give me joy to wear it! for my heart is

exceeding heavy.

MARG. "Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man.
HERO. Fie upon thee! art not asham'd?

MARG. Of what, Lady? of speaking honourably? Is not
marriage honourable in a beggar? Is not your Lord
honourable without marriage? I think you would have
me say Saving your reverence, a husband: an bad
thinking do not wrest true speaking, I'll offend
nobody. Is there any harm in the heavier for a
husband? None, I think, an it be the right husband
and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light, and not heavy.
Ask my Lady Beatrice else; here she comes.

1 (1) a reversed ruff or collar; (2) the wire shape on which it was fitted and held.

2 the false hair worn under the true locks. 3 slashes. 4 close under-sleeves. wide hanging-sleeves.

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ACT III

Sc. IV

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ACT III

Sc. IV

Enter BEATRICE.

HERO. Good morrow, Coz.

BEAT. Good morrow, sweet Hero.

HERO. Why, how now! do you speak in the sick tune?
BEAT. I am out of all other tune, methinks.

MARG. Clap's into Light o' Love; that goes without
a burden:1 do you sing it, and I'll dance it.
BEAT. Yea; light-o'-love with your heels! then, if your
husband have stables enough, you'll see he shall lack
no barns.2

MARG. O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with
my heels.

BEAT. "Tis almost five o'clock, Cousin; 'tis time you were ready. By my troth, I am exceeding ill: heigh-ho! MARG. For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?

BEAT. For the letter that begins them all, H.3

MARG. Well, an you be not turn'd Turk, there's no more sailing by the Star.

BEAT. What means the fool, trow?

MARG. Nothing I; but God send every one their heart's desire!

HERO. These gloves the Count sent me; they are an excellent perfume.

BEAT. I am stuff'd, Cousin; I cannot smell.

MARG. A maid, and stuff'd! there's goodly catching of cold.

[graphic]

BEAT. O, God help me! God help me! how long have you profess'd apprehension ?5

MARG. Ever since you left it. Doth not my wit become me rarely?

BEAT. It is not seen enough; you should wear it in your cap. By my troth, I am sick.

MARG. Get you some of this distill'd Carduus Benedictus,
and lay it to your heart: it is the only thing for a
qualm.

HERO. There thou prickest her with a thistle.
BEAT. Benedictus! why Benedictus ? you
moral in this Benedictus !

have some

MARG. Moral! no, by my troth; I have no moral

1 'the bass, foot, or undersong.' 2 (1) grain-houses, (2) children.

3 aitch-ache.

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meaning; I meant plain holy-thistle. You may
think perchance that I think you are in love: nay, by 'r
Lady, I am not such a fool to think what I list; nor
I list not to think what I can; nor, indeed, I cannot
think, if I would think my heart out of thinking, that
you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that
you
can be in love. Yet Benedick was such another, and
now is he become a man: he swore he would never
marry; and yet now, in despite of his heart, he eats
his meat without grudging: and how you may be
converted, I know not; but methinks you look with
your eyes as other women do.

BEAT. What pace is this that thy tongue keeps ?
MARG. Not a false gallop.1

Re-enter URSULA,

URS. Madam, withdraw: the Prince, the Count, Signior Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the Town, are come to fetch you to church.

مو

HERO. Help to dress me, good Coz, good Meg, good
Ursula,

[exeunt.

ACT III

Sc. IV

SCENE V. The Same.

Enter LEONATO, with DOGBERRY and VERGES.

LEON. What would you with me, honest Neighbour? DOG. Marry, Sir, I would have some confidence with you, that decerns you nearly.

LEON. Brief, I pray you; for you see it is a busy time

with me.

DOG. Marry, this it is, Sir

VERG. Yes, in truth it is, Sir

LEON. What is it, my good Friends?

DOG. Goodman Verges, Sir, speaks a little off the matter: an old man, Sir, and his wits are not so blunt as, God help, I would desire they were; but, in faith, honest as the skin between his brows.

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VERG. Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man living that is an old man, and no honester than I.

1 an artificial pace between the trot and the true gallop.

ACT III DOG. Comparisons are odorous: palabras, Neighbour

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LEON. Neighbours, you are tedious.

DOG. It pleases your Worship to say so, but we are the
poor
Duke's Officers; but truly, for mine own part, if I
were as tedious as a King, I could find it in my heart
to bestow it all of your Worship.
LEON. All thy tediousness on me, ha?

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DOG. Yea, an 'twere a thousand pound more than 'tis;
for I hear as good exclamation on your Worship as of
any man in the City; and, though I be but a poor man,
I am glad to hear it.
VERG. And so am I.

LEON. I would fain know what you have to say.
VERG. Marry, Sir, our Watch to-night, excepting your
Worship's presence, have ta'en a couple of as arrant
knaves as any in Messina.

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DOG. [to LEONATO.] A good old man, Sir; he will be
talking: as they say, When the age is in, the wit is out:
God help us! it is a world to see!—[to VERGES.] Well
said, i'faith, Neighbour Verges. Well, God's a good
man; an two men ride of a horse, one must ride
behind. [to LEONATO.] An honest soul, i'faith, Sir;
by my troth, he is, as ever broke bread: but God
is to be worshipp'd: all men are not alike—alas, good
Neighbour !

LEON. Indeed, Neighbour, he comes too short of you.
DOG. Gifts that God gives.

LEON. I must leave you.

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DOG. One word, Sir: our Watch, Sir, have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examin'd before your Worship. LEON. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me: I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you. DOG. It shall be suffigance.

LEON. Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well.

Enter a Messenger.

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MESS. My Lord, they stay for you to give your daughter

to her husband.

LEON. I'll wait upon them: I am ready.

[Exeunt LEONATO and Messenger. DOG. Go, good Partner, go, get you to Francis Seacole ; bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol: we are now to examination those men.

VERG. And we must do it wisely.

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DOG. We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that [touching his forehead] shall drive some of them to a noncome:1 only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol. [exeunt.

ACT IV

SCENE I. A Church.

Enter DON PEDRO, JOHN the Bastard, LEONATO, FRIAR FRANCIS, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, BEATRICE, and Attendants.

LEON. Come, Friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain
form of marriage, and you shall recount their particular
duties afterwards.

F. FRAN. You come hither, my Lord, to marry this lady?
CLAUD. NO.

LEON. To be married to her: Friar, you come to marry
her.

F. FRAN. Lady, you come hither to be married to this

Count?

HERO. I do.

ΤΟ

F. FRAN. If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoin'd, I charge you on your souls to utter it.

CLAUD. Know you any, Hero?

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LEON. I dare make his answer-None.

CLAUD. O, what men dare do! what men may do! what

men daily do, not knowing what they do!

BENE. [aside.] How now! interjections?

some be of laughing, as Ha, ha, he!

1 non-compos for non-plus.

Why, then

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ACT III

Sc. V

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